Mets Chat: Answering your comments and questions

Thanks for all your responses to Mets Chat. A very slow day for me. First full day at home since before spring training. Have been working on a project and getting caught up on some things.

It’s amazing how things pile up after seven weeks.

So, forgive me for being a little slow in blogging, but let me get to your comments.

-Burgos: Sooner or later Willie is going to need this guy so boosting his confidence is a must. If you were playing the strict percentages, he never would have faced Howard. But, it was the sixth inning so the Mets had four at-bats to overcome any mistakes. And, they did.

-Milledge: Yeah, Matt, I think it is Milledge thatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s going down when Pelfrey comes back. He seems to understand whatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s going on. His attitude has been great. He knows heÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll be back and has a place here.

-To Gil: ThatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s a good point you made about Burgos after the homer.

-To JL on Franco: I think the Mets are built to win this year, which is a main reason why Franco is on the roster. ThereÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s no question Johnson has more to offer. I donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t think the Mets are carrying him for the novelty, but because they really believe he will be able to do something positive.

-To Sam: Negative? Me? IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m here to call it as I see it, to give you something to think about. By no means am I always right, but my percentage isnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t bad. DonÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t forget, questioning WillieÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s decisions isnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t always a criticism, but a way of understanding his thought process.

I would think youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢d rather have me call it straight rather than blowing smoke. You want to know whatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s going on, right?

Willie does go by his gut from time to time, and thereÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s nothing wrong with that. I understand what he was doing with Burgos, but I know this. If it had been the eighth instead of the sixth, or if it were August instead of April, Burgos doesnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t pitch to Howard.

-To Steve C.: I was wondering what happened to you. Nice to see you back onboard. Steve, one of these days our paths will cross and IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll buy you a round. But, you have to get the next one.

-To Lister: Padilla was supposed to be examined Monday but it was pushed back. No word, yet.

John Delcos enters his third season covering the Mets for The Journal News after eight seasons on the Yankees beat. Prior to coming to New York, John covered the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians.